Tool-head lubrication



July 7, 1925.

' C. F RANDOLPH ET AL TOOL HEAD LUBRICATION Filed March 11, 1922 Patented July 7, 1925.

CLIFFORD E'RANDOLPH AND CHARLES ASSIGNOBS TQ NILES-BEMENT-POND TION OF NEW JERSEY.

L. 'nicann's, or rmmrmm), NEW JERSEY, COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A conrom TOOL-HEAD LUBRICATION.

Application filed Mai-ch11, 1922. Serial No. 543,027.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be 'it known that-we, CLIFFORD F. RAN- DOLPH and CHAnLEs L. RIcARns, citizens of the United States, and residents of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Head Lubrication, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to machine tools and more especially to a machine tool head supporting a tool spindle vertically therein. The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved tool head construction and improved means in connection therewith for lubricating the tool spindle and its operating mechanism.

. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool head casing for operatively supporting a tool spindle, such casing com- .prisinga vertically extending compartment for slidably receiving the tool spindle therein and a separate compartment for housing the spindle driving and feeding gears.

Another object of the invention is to provide, preferably in connection with a head of the above type, an improved spindle and gearing lubricating system comprising a.

pump and connections for deliver ng lubricant therefrom to the spindle and its operating mechanism, a sight valve being provided in connection with the spindle lubrication whereby the amount of lubricant delivered to the spindle can be accurately controlled.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. In such drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, we have shown our invention as embodied in the head of a radial drilling machine but it will be understood that',the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partially in section of a drill head illustrating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lubricating pump shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3-isa longitudinal sectional view of the sight feed valve shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of the spindle lubrica'ting mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

In the accompanying drawing we have illustrated our invention in connection with the drill head of a radial drilling machine. A similar head and a detailed description of the operating mechanism therefor isillustrated in Patent No. 1,368,294, dated February 15th, 1921. Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the drill head supporting arm of a radial drilling machine, 2'the drill head slidably mounted thereon, 3 the drill spindle and 4; the arm shaft operatively connected to the drill spindle through the spur gears 5 and bevel gears 6 and 7. The spindle is fed longitudinally by means ofa shaft 8 having a bevelgear 9 in mesh with a bevel gear 10 on a shaft 11 provided with a pinion 12 in mesh with a rack 13 on the spindle sleeve 14. The feeding mechanism, which within itself comprises no part of the present invention, is shown and described in detail in the above cited patent.

The head 1 of the improved mechanism comprises a casing constructed in the following manner: In casting the casing, the same is provided with a-plurality of reinforcing and separating walls whereby the casing is divided into several compartments hereinafter described. vertically extending wall 15 provides a compartment 16 for receiving the drill spindle 3. A second and separate compartment 17 is. provided for housing the s indle driving and feeding mechanism. The bottom 18 of the lower compartment 17 provides a reservoir for resupported in bearings 20 and 20 in the opposite walls of the compartment 17. A pair of keys 22 in the'sleeve 20 engage within the spline of the spindle. The upper non-.

rotatable portion 14 of the spindle is slidably supported in a bearin 21 integral with the wall 15. The spindle rive gear 7 is secured to the sleeve 20 which also carries a pump operating cam 23 hereinafter de scribed. Check nuts 24 loosely secure the sleeve 14 to the upper end of the spindle. The upper end of the spindle is also provided with an axial oil duct 25 and a connecting radial. duct 26 whereby the spindle is lubricated as hereinafter described. A pump, illustrated in detail in Fig. 2, is provided for raising oil from the lower reservoir 18 to lubricate the spindle and its operating'gears. This pump comprises a casing 27 and a plunger 28, the plunger being normally held outwardly by a spring 29 in a; manner to hold an anti-friction roller 30 thereon in contact with the operatingcam 23. Ball valves 31 and 32 are provided in the pump in the usual manner. A pipe 33 forms a connection between the pump and lower reservoir 18, a check valve 34 being provided in the lower end of the pipe.

Extending upwardly from the pump is a pipe 35. A branch pipe 36, extending from the pipe 35 to lubricate the spindle, is provided with a sight valve 37 wherebythe spindle lubrication can be accurately controlled. The end of this branch pipe is positioned directly over the spindle bore 25. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the valve 37 comprises a hand wheel 38 operating a heedle 39 whereby to control the flow of oil which may be observed through the sight hole '40; The pipe 35 extends upwardly at 41 to a position beyond the valve 37 and from thence leads downwardly at 42 into the reservoir 19. Pipes 43 and 44 extendfrom the reservoir 19 downwardly to a position over the spindle feeding and driving gears whereby such gears are lubricated.

By constructing the drill head casing in the manner described, the drill spindle and the operating mechanism therefor are housed in separate compartments and the 1 Walls of such compartments provide reinforcing means for the casing. The lubrication of the spindle may be accurately con trolled by the valve 37, the gearing in its separate compartment being lubricated by thev oil not used for spindle lubrication. It will be understood that thespindle lubrication is of prime importance and, by means of the two. separate compartments described, free lubrication of the gearing in no way effects the spindle lubrication. Excess lubrication of the spindle will causeoil to drip from the bottom thereof and be thrown outwardl in a disagreeable manner when the drill is in operation. By controlling this lubrication, the flow may be so accurately regulated that only sufiicient oil for proper lubrication enters the spindle. The sleeve 20 extends entirely through the spindle drive gearing compartment 17 and prevents any of the gearing lubricant from reaching the spindle. It will be understood that the tion 41 of the oil pipe provides a head of oil above the valve 37 whereby a quantity of oil is always in position to flow downwardly through the valve into the spindle.

In Figs. 4 and 5, we have shown a modi fication of the invention above described. Little or no Work is ever done with the spindle in its uppermost position and, for this reason, it may be desirable to prevent flow of oil thereto at such time. F or this purpose, we mount an oil-'deflector on the easing 2 adjacent the spindle. As illustrated, this deflector comprises a plate 45 pivoted to the casing at 46. Downward movement of the plate 45 is limited by a heel 47 on the ,deflector coming into contact with the casing. In its downward position, illustrated in fulllines in Fig. 4, the deflector in no way prevents free flow of oil to the spindle duct 25. However, as the spindle approaches its uppermost position, a rod 48 secured to the spindle engages and raises the deflector plate to the position illustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4- and in full lines in Fig. 5. In such position, oil coming from the pipe 36 drops onto the deflector plate and is thereby carried to one side of the spindle duct 25..

What we claim n:

1. A machine tool comprising the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle movable verticall therein, means above the spindle for delivering oil thereto, and a deflector automatically movable to a position preventing fiow of oil to the spindle when the latter is adjacent its uppermost position. I

2. A machine tool comprising the combi nation of a casing, a vertical spindle movable vertically therein, means above the spindle for delivering oil thereto, and a deflector plate pivoted to the casing and automatically movable thereon to a position preventing flow of oil to the spindle when the latter isadjacent its uppermost position.

3. A machine tool comprising the combination of a casing, a vertical spindle movable vertically therein, means above the spindle for delivering oil thereto, a deflector plate pivoted to the casing above the spindle and normally extending downwardly out of the line of spindle lubrication, and means on the spindle adapted upon upward movement of the spindle to engage the deflector and move the same to a position intercepting the line of spindle lubrication.

In testimony whereof, we hereto aflix our signatures.

CLIFFORD F. RANDOLPH. CHAS. L. RICARDS. 

